Nothing Epic but Recommended - Sure

I have owned numerous Google phones with Pixel 2 being the previous. The Pixel 3 XL is like every other Android based phone with two particular features - it works and the battery life is phenomenal. I use the phone pretty actively. Streaming music and video, hot spot, work, personal, pictures, etc. I have YouTube Red and Google Music as a pay service for context. I have had no issues with Bluetooth connectivity, signal issues or wifi problems.
Being a Google phone it does not come with carrier bloatware. Updates are available as soon as Google releases them.
The review summary is "Nothing Epic" which is true. It is not an iPhone killer, a Samsung game changer, etc. It is your basic smartphone like every other phone on the market. It integrates well with Microsoft Office, as does my Fossil Q Explorer, which is very convenient work related tasks. The same goes for personal use. Unlike Apple iPhone products the accessories are more accessible to 3rd party products however they are not as ubiquitous as Apple products so this can be considered a wash in advantage/disadvantage.
I have owned Google phones dating back to the first Nexus. I have purchased Apple phones for the family since the debut of the iPhone. Feature wise there is nothing that separates either phone with a feature the other device is not capable of doing as well. My history with these devices is the Google phones have not been durable like iPhone products in regards to internal workings, e.g. The battery life is utterly abysmal, the radio circuits break down and connectivity is sketchy - not speaking about carrier quality; something like connecting to wifi for example. I have not had a great history with Google exclusive devices. Having an unlocked phone was more important to me however so I have persisted. The reason for this prologue is Google finally released a device that actually works as advertised and behaves like rival products in this context. Google finally got a hardware product correct for once. For anybody that has purchased an Android based mobile product, like Samsung for example, will most likely want to know: The battery. It is exceptional and stands up to heavy use. It can quick charge and become usable for those extended weekends of activity, business trips, etc. It should not have taken this many generations of Google phones to get this right but Google nailed it this time. Wife and daughters are even jealous that they need to lug around back-up battery charging packs or risk being tethered to a wall socket. The Qi wireless charging is more than enough to get you back up and going again until you are able to get back to a normal schedule again.
Phone call quality is again, nothing epic. It works.
Screen quality is again, nothing epic. It looks like every other comparable phone on the market during the same release schedule.
The camera is nice and produces great pictures. I also pay for Google Drive so I store my pictures and videos in original quality mode in regards to storage. The Pixel 3 XL does not support removable storage (or battery) and is tied heavily with Google Drive by default. You can easily switch to another cloud based solution such as Microsoft OneDrive, drop box, etc.
Sound system is note worthy. It has stereo speakers where you can actually discern left and right while watching a video or music without using headphones. Admittedly I use Bluetooth for majority of these tasks unless showing someone a video.
While I am thinking of it - I am 6'4" and have long fingers. The Pixel 3 XL fits comfortably and easy to operate even one handed without requiring Google Assistant to reply to text, etc. My wife is 5'3" and the phone is a bit of a challenge with smaller hands.
If you read books voraciously, or read/research, the Pixel 3 XL is also noteworthy. I have an enormous library of books via Google Play Books, Kindle, and various PDF formats. Combine this with the exceptional battery life you will probably find this phone exceptional. The screen is fantastic, functional, and battery life makes it feasible for long sessions. I find myself reaching for a laptop less and just using my Pixel 3 XL instead. The default Chrome browser and my Google account also make casting via Chrome cast or simply resuming on a PC is seamless as well as resuming on the phone what you started on a PC.
Google Docs and Microsoft Office are indistinguishable from a usage standpoint. This is very handy for business needs along with non-work related use like study, hobbies, etc.
A review that goes down a bullet list of specifications are easily looked up on-line so I decided to leave a review based on how I actually use it. I stand by the fact there is nothing fundamentally outstanding about this device that you can't find in any other current mobile device found on the market. That said I am completely satisfied with my purchase and would recommend without hesitation to anybody that has previously owned another Android based device. I would also recommend to any person that is coming from an Apple orientation looking for something different whatever the rationale might be.
The Pixel 3 XL is simply a functional device that works and does not excel nor lag behind any other device on the market in this consumer class range.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Jebcola

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

First Google Phone

I have always had Samsung Galaxy phones the last several years, so this is my first google phone. I am impressed! I like Samsung, but when I was reading reviews and researching the Pixel 3XL, I decided to make a change and I am happy I did. There wasn't a huge or specific reason why, Samsung flagship phones have always worked great for me, but I guess if I had to pick out an exact reason, I would say there were 3. First, the camera is better. Sure, not significantly better than most people would realize, but if this is going to be my main phone, why not get something that is technically better...even by just a little margin. Second, the android experience. I have always like Android better than iOS and definitely better than WIndows (when they were relevant in the phone industry), so I wanted to try the 100% android experience without having all the manufacture extras. I only used...maybe...very few of Samsung's apps, so why not get a phone that doesn't have all the extra apps I rarely use. Lastly, it kind of goes with the second reason, and that is the lack of bloatware. I had a 64GB Galaxy and was using about 40GB of space when I got the pixel (64GB is more than enough for me)... the majority were pics and videos and apps I installed, but I would say a good portion of it was also the Samsung apps that are preloaded, which I barely used, if at all. So, when I transferred everything to my new Pixel (apps, photos, texts, videos, and other data)....I'm only using about 22GB of storage!!! I will cut that down even more when I transfer about over 1000 pictures and dozens of videos to the unlimited google cloud photo storage from my Pixel itself, freeing up even more space. My point is, without all that extra bloatware, I will have even more GB space to use with the same 64GB capacity. Overall, I am satisfied. Unless something unexpected or unforeseen happens, I think I might now be a Google phone person for life! Only time will tell!

I would recommend this to a friend

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FLguy

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Superb phone, compared to Pixel 2

Posted 4 months ago

FLguy

Member

The best Google phone as of yet.
A little history of prior smart phones - iPhone 5s and 6 (work phones), One plus 5t, Nexus 6p, Pixel 2, 2xl and 3xl.
Pros -
Camera - just as everyone else has said. Night sight and portriat are stellar. At my last family get together, it was the Pixel everyone wanted to take family pics. That was among iPhone users.
2 - battery life is fantastic.
3 - Buttery smooth OS with all the current updates. This is personally a top issue for me. Google's Android is so clean and efficient, no lag.
4 - free full resolution uploads on Google photos. 64 GB is plenty for me with this feature. I have it set to clear out downloaded pics after 1 month. I have never ran short of space.
5 - stereo front facing speakers. The best I have heard. This is an upgrade from the Pixel 2 and 2xl. They are significantly louder.
6 - screen is beautiful. I think a little better than the 2xl.
7 - the wide angle 2nd selfie camera. This is more handy than I expected.
8 - excellent WiFi and Bluetooth connection.
9 - rapid charging. I have not used wireless. It is not an issue for me with the battery life and rapid charging.
10 - my last kudos is the headphones. I was surprised with how nice they sound.
11 - oops, one more. IP68 water resistant.
Cons -
1 - stupid notch. I am use to it, but what a waste of screen space. I don't mind some bezels - the 2xl was just fine. I'll take bezels for a large battery, dual front speakers and a headphone jack.
2 - no headphone jack.
3 - the back of the phone vibrates when played at higher volumes.
Should I get this or the 2/2xl. They are very close. The 3xl has better speakers, the second front facing camera, wireless charging, a bit wider screen and the camera is a little better ( I mean little). And there are headphones. These are all minor in my book. Personally, I got it because it was on sale. But I am glad I did.
For Apple/iOS folks. If you are considering trying a Andoid phone, this is the one. It is a clean OS without bloatware that other Android phones have. That is something Apple is really good at. Same thing here.

I would recommend this to a friend

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William

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Great phone, easy switch from iPhone

First of all, the only smartphones I have ever owned were all iPhones. I was really nervous about making the switch, and just assumed that the android operating system would be more difficult to use. However, I had always been pretty disappointed with my iPhone cameras, and decided to go with the Pixel 3 XL because it supposedly had the best camera.
So the camera really and truly is great, but what I didn't expect was how easy and better the Google operating system is which was a pleasant surprise. The integration with all of Google's services, i.e. Google Photos, Google Maps, Google search, make the phone easier to use and more truly useful than my previous iPhone. The Google Assistant also blows Siri out of the water. Also, it was super easy to transfer all of my apps, contacts, photos and data with the adapter that comes with the phone. The free Google Photos storage means I don't have to use my phone's internal storage for photos and videos, meaning the 64 gb goes much further and is more than enough for me. My main problem with my iPhone's storage was my photos and videos, so its nice not having to worry about it anymore. The battery life could be a little better, but is still good and way better than my previous iPhone.
In summary, I really couldn't be happier with the Pixel 3. The camera is phenomenal, and the operating system is easy and useful, and switching from iPhone has been easy and better than I expected.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Rybo

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Great Upgrade From Original Pixel-$400 Off Sale

I replaced an original Pixel XL with this Pixel 3 XL. I'm glad to finally have a water resistant phone (which the original was not). Everything about it is nicer and better, as it should be. It also came with pretty decent earbuds. Thanks for including them and not being stingy, Google -- like some other companies! I don't mind that they need to be plugged into the USB-C port, although I grant you'd need a splitter or a Bluetooth headset to charge and listen simultaneously now. The screen is really nice. I'm actually glad for the notch because it's just a convenient location for the notification bar at the top, though I wasn't crazy at first for copying that particular feature from Apple. The OS is really snappy, and I like the pure Android experience over the other brands' custom bloatware that eventually starts to lag.
3 things I'm not too crazy about:
1. I don't like the chin on the bottom. It's smaller than the original Pixel XL, but it could be even smaller or non-existent. Apple did a great job by covering the entire screen, and the Pixel 3 XL just looks a little unfinished or rush-designed at the bottom in comparison. If the screen just went a little further down, even if it didn't cover the bottom speaker, it would look a bit better.
2. The 2 speakers aren't the same volume when playing audio. And that's because the top speaker is smaller. It's just not the best design choice IMO.
3. On the software front, I miss the older home button. Now to get to the open apps screen you have to use gestures by swiping up on the home button, and I find that slower and more difficult.
** NOTE: For anyone who purchased the phone at Best Buy on Thanksgiving, Verizon mistakenly applied a $200 discount instead of the advertised $400 discount, and it's a bit of a pain to have that corrected. This wasn't Best Buy's fault. Check your receipts, everyone, because it may have happened to everyone who purchased the phone on Thanksgiving. Verizon wasn't open until Friday and did not apply the $400 discount until Friday, I believe.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Worm

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Great phone at a great price!

This phone is my first Google phone and let me tell you it's great. The only negative thing is the selection of ringtones they all suck but you can probably download an app to fix this problem. That being said it's still the best phone I have had to date. The layout is so smooth and easy to operate. The display is way better than other phones and the pics are incredible in any situation. You pair this phone with a HD Screen protector and a OtterBox defender series case you have a winning combination. You do have to modify the bottom portion of the OtterBox to allow room for the screen protector but it's an easy fix. The speakers on this phone are really clear and loud, the earphones that come in the box are some of the best I have heard crystal clear and actually have really good bass they also are very comfortable and do not fall out of your ears. The battery lasts right around 2 days with medium use and recharges in less than an hour from dead to fully charged. Bluetooth works great, WiFi is the best I have seen once you save a WiFi network the phones automatically connects when ever you are in range everytime without fail. Call reception and texting are also great. Basically this phone does everything and even more than other phones do just faster and better. Not to mention you are the first to get any and all updates. Normally my reviews are short but I just can't say enough good things about this phone. I am definitely a Google man from now on.

I would recommend this to a friend

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MylesBDyson

Elite Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Awesome phone!

Phone background: this year Ive owned the iPhone X, iPhone 8 plus, Note8, LGV30, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S9.
Ive had this phone for about 2 weeks and it has been great. I've had no major issues with it. The hardware is solid, its got some heft to it and is a quality buld but isn't bulky. The software is clean and smooth. I personally don't mind the notch or chin. The screen resolution is gorgeous. The speakers are really loud, music comes in nice and clear and notifications and calls come in nice and loud with no distortion. Battery life is very good on this phone, I average moderate usage and get about a day and a half and it has never gone under 40%. The camera.... I don't have to speak about that, it's phenomenal. One thing that I noticed and like is the haptic feedback. The keybaord and manuvering through apps, there is a nice liklght vibration when typing and touching navigation. No bad things to report as of yet.

I would recommend this to a friend

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James

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Buy for the camera, keep for the performance.

Posted 7 months ago

James

Elite Plus Member

The PIxels have world-renowned cameras for a reason as it is, and now that you I've gotten to try the Night Mode a little earlier than the actual release... I need everyone to know that in low light this phone is absolutely magic. Check the attached photos for a regular and a Night Mode comparison. Beyond the camera, though, this simply is the best performing Android phone, period. You'll see phones with more RAM, newer processors, etc. etc. but the Pixels always stutter less and load faster. It's the special Google sauce that makes this phone a keeper for me and that's why I'll never go back to Samsung and my work iPhone will collect dust.

I would recommend this to a friend

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BrianS

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Lots It Can Do - Still Learning

I went from Samsung to Pixel platform pretty easily. The operations are fairly similar so not to hard to figure out the basics. Free app moved all my data (texts also) to my new phone and the BB staff helped me out with that part. It took about 4 hours but I needed some critical info and it was one of my biggest concerns. The phone itself is very fast changing between functions and battery life is pretty good (average user 4-6 hours of internet and apps). The camera is it's the strong point - I'm most likely not use it to it's fullest abilities, but purchased it for taking construction site photos. I have yet to experiment with the 360 photo feature, I think it will be helpful w/ for before & after photos. - One thing I do wish is it had a removable memory card, I am not a big cloud storage user. And its going to take a little time to get use to not being able to use inexpensive earbuds (no 1/8" headphone jack) - In the past my Blu-tooth headset/earpieces get lost/broken or need charging.
All together I am satisfied with the phone overall.

I would recommend this to a friend

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jmbaros

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

My best phone experience thus far!

Posted 1 month ago

jmbaros

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

I switched to Pixel 3XL primarily for its reknown camera but after about 2 weeks with this phone, I realize that I now love it even more because of its other qualities. First, it is super fast despite its 4GB of RAM (which on paper is inferior to some of its competitors); I haven't experienced any trouble operating and navigating across several apps. Second, google assistant brings the phone experience to another level of convenience, from basic stuff such as replying texts and setting up routines, to more interesting stuff like the screen call function. Speaking of which, this screen call function nails it for me. Think of it, now I can troll those companies who often annoy with those random phone calls :). Last, the Pixel 3XL's AI and machine learning capabilities are on point. I'm always amazed at how fast it learns and adapts to my preferences and habits!

I would recommend this to a friend

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SDC80

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

3

Great features, too glitchy

I made the switch from iPhone to Pixel3XL after 11 years of Apple. I was hesitant but gave it a shot anyway. Some of the features like call screening, Google Lens and the wide angle selfie cam were awesome. However, after a week I noticed there were some glitches that made me feel Google needs to improve upon before they can be called a true competitor to iPhone. Sometimes during a phone call the screen would go black and I could not end the call or use the keypad until the call ended. This is a problem when the other person doesn’t answer and you’re forced to leave a voicemail. Another issue was apps would be randomly opened when I woke up or the wrong contact would be displayed when I received a text. Little things, but enough annoyance to return back to iPhone. Maybe in the future I will switch when the kinks get worked out.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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Call

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Switched from iPhone

I google everything. I religiously use gmail and all of the google products. What I love about this phone is how the entire phone is built around google. On the home screen, there is a search bar so you can google things on the fly. I have never been so efficient in my life. Before I had to open a new browser type google in or download the app. I think the google voice command could use some work as I notice it confuses names... I think it just needs some precision like Apple in that department. I love how you can watch youtube videos while looking at your emails. The phone basically has all the features you wish the iphone had. I think the battery life is a little overestimated. It charges super fast which is great if you need a quick charge but it doesn't last very long but that might just be me on the wrong setting. Camera quality is great and love that I have unlimited storage and can upload things to drive quickly. Overall really love this phone and have no regrets switching from the iPhone,

I would recommend this to a friend

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Lolo

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

The best camera period.

Originally bought for my fiance but after a week of seeing her using it I had to get my own. First of all the call screener is awesome no other phone has this feature I hate robocalls and this puts a stop at it I'm always afraid to answer unknown numbers now I can just screen at a push of a button. Next the camera is amazing night shot works perfectly sometimes it's a little slow but the outcome looks like I used a flash. My kids like the playground feature where they can take pictures with their favorite marvel characters. Another feature is you can transfer everything from your old phone your text messages roll right over which is really nice. Probably the only downfall is my old turbo charger doesn't work with this phone the charger cable is usbc- usbc- no regular USB so I guess if you have a newer Mac book would be easier to charge than an iPhone kinda strange I know. It comes with usb-c headphones and not an adapter like my other phone.

I would recommend this to a friend

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PixelTrouble

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

1

Good for 1 month then Dead

Extremely disappointed with Google and the Pixel 3XL I purchased. My concern is that google isn't addressing the problem.
I purchased a google pixel 3xl February 20th, 2019. Have used it for a month and really enjoyed it. Today, I go to use my phone (which was working perfectly fine this morning suddenly has become inoperable.
The screen gives an error "can't find an operating system". Now, this seems to be an significant issue according to support forums I read this morning that has effected multiple pixels. Yet, google doesn't have an answer to why and it's remaining quite on the subject. For a flagship phone to have such a fatal error is ridiculous. What's even more ridiculous is that they can''t even guarantee me that I will get a new phone. I may get a refurbished one and It will take 5-15 business days.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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Judson

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

3

Decent Android Phone But Not Worth Buying

It probably is only worth the price during sales. After all I paid $600 for this (meanwhile you can buy an Oneplus 6T at this price any day).
Pixel has the quickest update, no doubt about it. Best single camera set up (but most others have 2 now). The advantages pretty much stopped here. If you value these heavily, go get one now and you will be happy.
Now the BAD:
The form factor is atrocious and Google doesn't even bother providing a legit notch hide option. LG with Oreo has a better solution!
No headphone jack.
The new Pixel launcher with Pie Gesture is some hot trash, I will put it this way. Pixel 2 allows you to go back to classic, no more on the 3. I use Nova anyways but be aware.
4GB RAM? Not sure if it can last you 2yr+
Most of all, I absolutely have no idea why I can only get 4hr SOT, my old Pixel 2 XL does better than that. Bummer.
I wouldn't recommend buying this any time soon. $499 is where it should stay.

No, I would not recommend this to a friend

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MikeeH

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4

Different from my Samsung

Coming off of a Samsung Note 5 this Pixel3 XL is taking some getting used to. While the screens and functions are intuitive, they are different from what I'm used to. For instance, the icon for the speakerphone is not separate from the phone icon, rather it appears as part of that screen... difficult to explain but when I first started receiving phone calls while driving I was hanging up on the caller when I tried to engage the speakerphone function. There were other issues like finding the setting to mute the message notification and not realizing that I had somehow engaged the "do not disturb" function. Yeah, I'm a dummy but that's just me. Hopefully, your learning experience will go better. Now, as to the rest of the phone, I love it! Battery life is terrific, the screen is bright and clear and the notch doesn't bother me at all. So yeah, overall I'm pleased.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Wizzer

Verified Purchase

Elite Plus Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

Best Pixel yet

If you want a phone that feels great to hold, has a beautiful display, amazing camera, and no bloatware, this is the phone for you. Front facing speakers sound very good. Call quality is excellent. I've been happy with Bluetooth connectivity as well as the wireless speed.
Regarding the notch, I alternate between hiding it and putting it back to the default view because I can't decide if it bothers me or not. (This setting is found once you enable developer options.)
Because this is a pure Android experience, performance is extremely quick and fluid. I haven't had the issues that I've read about others having due to a lack of memory. This phone only has 4 gigabytes of memory, same as my original Pixel XL, but I haven't experienced it shutting down programs unexpectedly.

I would recommend this to a friend

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DjPhorte

Verified Purchase

Elite Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

6 Month (ish) review

Bottom Line: Great phone, such a quality camera and set of features.
Favorites:
-'Screen Call' from Google
-Camera
-'Night Mode' (eliminates blue light)
-Fastest charging with a quality battery I've seen in any phone
-Security features (on new Android)
Minor inconveniences:
-Took several updates to get to this point.
-No notification LED
-Lack of Case selection AND Defective plastics for 'screen protectors' (something is wrong with the manufacturers quality and sizing BECAUSE if you add a screen protector, you can't use an OtterBox or any full protecting case - the protection screen will not lay flat/has bubbles) this is true for the Sahara and Zagg.
- I don't mind the notch to be honest but if it is a 'Deal Breaker' for you, download 'Nacho Notch App'

I would recommend this to a friend

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Mitch053

Verified Purchase

Member

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

5

My second pixel xl

I just replaced my original Pixel XL with the Pixel 3 XL. I loved the original and it's only been a week but I love this one as well. I have had many brands of Android phones over the years but there is nothing better than a straight Android experience. I love that I get new versions of Android and fixes and updates quicker than any other phone. I extensively use Android Auto, Google Maps, Google home and everything just works great together. Love the new camera, the screen, the speed. I thought the notch would bother me but it really doesn't bother me much. I just cuts off some of the notification bar but not a big deal because no matter how you look at it you have to pull down the notification shade anyway to see what's in the notifiction. So not really missing anything that the notch blocks.

I would recommend this to a friend

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Anonymous

Member

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

1

not up to standards

got this phone in November. pretty simple to use, with a lil playing around.
this phone sucks compared to what I paid for it and it's the new of new phones.
stalls/ locks up on Twitter, has issues uploading emails, slow to send messages on text or doesn't send at all... even though you've sent multiple messages before -
sometime it'll talk to you using Google maps gps... sometimes it won't.
sometimes it'll alert you of text messages, other times it won't. it's really fickle and annoying
good part I do like is that the pictures are way better most of the time. it still messes up -